NYT Connections (#1,147) hints and answers for this month’s opener (August 1, 2026)

Today’s Connection puzzle is fairly straightforward, but it may trip you up if you’re not cautious with your guesses. If you’re on your last attempt, we recommend taking a look at the hints we’ve curated for you. Once you’re past the hints, we’ll give you one word from each category, followed by the list of themes. You will find the answers and their explanations at the bottom of the page. So, without further ado, here are all the hints, clues, and answers to NYT Connections today (#1,147, July 31, 2026).

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What is Connections?

Connections is one of the most popular word games from The New York Times, only trailing behind Wordle. The rules of the game are simple. You are presented with a 16-word grid where you’re supposed to find the entries that share something in common. There are a total of 4 groups, each consisting of 4 letters, that you must find. The Yellow group is the easiest to spot, followed by Green, Blue, and Purple. Sometimes, there are a couple of red herrings to throw you off and make the puzzle more interesting. You can play Connections in the NYT Games app or on the NYT website.

Here’s your grid for today

• WALTZ
• LOAFER
• SHAM
• BORE
• REAM
• BOULEVARD
• SHEET
• BALE
• THROW
• BUNDLE
• JORDAN
• ROLLS-ROYCE
• PHOENIX
• DRILL
• COMFORTER
• COUNTERSINK

Hints for NYT Connections (#1,147) August 1, 2026

Let’s get you started with some general, spoiler-free hints.

• 🟡Yellow Group: What you’d find on a bed.
• 🟢Green Group: Felicitated by the Academy.
• 🔵Blue Group: Make holes using a machine.
• 🟣Purple Group: Starting with something bready.

One Word Per Category (Contains Spoilers)

Can’t seem to find an in? We’ll give you one word from each category.

• 🟡Yellow Group: Comforter.
• 🟢Green Group: Bale.
• 🔵Blue Group: Bore.
• 🟣Purple Group: Boulevard.

List of Themes (Major Spoilers)

Maybe getting to know the common themes among the words will help you spot them faster. Here are all the categories for today.

• 🟡Yellow Group: Bedding.
• 🟢Green Group: Oscar-Winning Actors Since 2010.
• 🔵Blue Group: Perform Some Hole Machining Operations.
• 🟣Purple Group: Starting With Bread Shapes.

Answers to NYT Connections (#1,147) Today (August 1, 2026)

Close to waving the white flag? Fine, we’ll give you the answers.

• 🟡Yellow Group: Comforter, Sham, Sheet, Throw. (Bedding)

All of these items are used for warmth or decoration on a bed.

• 🟢Green Group: Bale, Jordan, Phoenix, Waltz. (Oscar-Winning Actors Since 2010)

Christian Bale (2011, The Fighter). Michael B. Jordan (2026, Sinners). Joaquin Phoenix (2020, Joker). Christopher Waltz (2010, Inglorious Basterds. 2013, Django Unchained).

• 🔵Blue Group: Bore, Countersink, Drill, Ream. (Perform Some Hole Machining Operations)

These activities require some kind of machinery to drill or enlarge holes. 

• 🟣Purple Group: Boulevard, Bundle, Loafer, Rolls-Royce. (Starting With Bread Shapes)

Boule-vard. Bun-dle. Loaf-er. Roll-s-Royce.

Answers to yesterday’s puzzle (#1,146, July 31, 2026)

• 🟡Yellow Group: Fashion, Model, Mold, Shape. (Construct)
• 🟢Green Group: Dinosaur, Mushroom, Plumber, Princess. (Super Mario Figures)
• 🔵Blue Group: Dapple, Jdate, Slime, Spear. (Fruits Plus Starting Letter) 
• 🟣Purple Group: Cheerios, Fungus, Gleek, Joystick. (Starting With Merriments)

Answers to NYT Connections #1,145 (July 30, 2026)

• 🟡Yellow Group: Fair, Good, Just, Right. (Virtuous)
• 🟢Green Group: Beer Pong, Bingo, Juggling, Pool. (Activities With Multiple Balls)
• 🔵Blue Group: Carnival, Celebrity, Princess, Viking. (Cruise Lines)
• 🟣Purple Group: Dot, Mark, Money, Nose. (On The ___, To Mean ‘Precise’)

Answers to NYT Connections #1,144 (July 29, 2026)

• 🟡Yellow Group: Nail, Rivet, Screw, Staple. (Fasten)
• 🟢Green Group: Basic, Mid, Plain, Vanilla. (Nondescript)
• 🔵Blue Group: Gem, Nugget, Pearl, Word. (Units Of Wisdom)
• 🟣Purple Group: Black, Chalk, Cork, White. (____ Boards In A Classroom)

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How did other solvers do today?

NYT’s early testers rated today’s Connection puzzle 2.8 out of 5. This puts it in the medium difficulty level. Let us know how you fared in the comments!